Richmond dinner to benefit Rosie the Riveter Trust

RICHMOND -- National Park Service Ranger Betty Reid Soskin and veteran TV host Doug McConnell will be the featured speakers at the annual Rosie the Riveter Trust benefit dinner on April 9.

The theme of the evening at the historic Galileo Club, 371 South 23rd St., will be Discover Rosie Everywhere, a variation of the National Park Service centennial theme of Find Your Park,

Soskin, 94, is a central figure at the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, giving popular presentations on her perspective of life in Richmond during the war, when she worked in a segregated union office. She introduced President Obama at the 2015 National Christmas Tree Lighting in Washington, D.C., and was named Assembly District 15 Black History Month honoree by Assemblyman Tony Thurmond.

McConnell was the 16-year host of the television travel program "Bay Area Back Roads" and now hosts "OpenRoad," a show that airs Sundays on NBC Bay Area.

Along with his remarks, McConnell "will also preview segments from his current project, a film capturing the immense social changes spawned by World War II and the home front experience as viewed by Soskin," say event organizers.

The benefit dinner starts with a 6 p.m. social hour, followed by dinner and the program at 7 p.m. There will also be a silent auction.

"In the spirit of the evening and the World War II Richmond home front era, 1940s attire is encouraged," organizers add.

Tickets are $150 each if purchased by March 21, or $175 afterward, available online at this link.

Proceeds go toward the trust's work to "expand educational programs for all ages and preserve historical home front resources for the Bay Area and the nation. This year, some of the proceeds will support efforts to bring fourth-graders from local schools to the park's Visitors Center as part of the Every Kid in a Park initiative."

By Chris Treadway for Bay Area New Group. Read the original article here!